An EA Japan executive has criticized CERO, the Japanese games rating board, for approving Stellar Blade’s rating while denying one for the remake of Dead Space, effectively banning the game from release in Japan.
First spotted by Automaton, EA Japan general manager Shaun Noguchi said that CERO denied Dead Space‘s rating due to the game showing severed body parts and internal organs. However, he posted screenshots of characters being dismembered in Stellar Blade, which received a CERO D rating, meaning that it can’t be purchased by players under the age of 17 but can be sold.
Noguchi clarified that he enjoyed the demo and that he’s not criticizing Stellar Blade, but just the CERO ratings board itself. The Dead Space remake is not available for purchase in Japan, which indicates that it wasn’t even eligible for the CERO Z, or 18+, rating, the equivalent of the M rating with ESRB and North America.
Stellar Blade launches on April 26 for PlayStation 5. Developer Shift Up recently announced that all versions of the game, including the Japanese one, will be uncensored. Additionally, PlayStation released a promotional trailer for the game with a crossover with Korean music artist Bibi.
